Yoga for Children in South Africa

[Guest guest]

Yoga for Children in South Africa

 

 

Linda Venter, a senior student and teacher of the

Anjali School of Yoga – South Africa, is volunteering her time, energy and

skills in teaching yoga to children (she also visited the Ananda Ashram with a

group of four other South Africans in 2007).

 

In 2006 Linda, a retired social worker, felt that she

needs to do something that really can bring about a difference in someone’s

life. Not having children of her own, she decided to approach the schools in

our rural community. The Attie van Wyk School accepted her services in teaching

the children yoga skills. At first she started with 100 children (grades 2-6)

and in 2008 grade 1 was added with 37 extra scholars.

 

This school was erected to serve the children of

colored farm workers in the rural area. 70% of these children are from

disadvantage homes. The parents have none or very little education themselves.

Alcoholism is a great problem in these communities and many of the children

from these homes are borne with alcohol syndrome. Some of the children are sent

here from a children’s orphanage because of behavior problems.

 

Teaching started in the classrooms amidst all the

desks and chairs and/or outside on a cement slab and when it is very hot, then

under a tree on the ground. This uncomfortable situation was changed when the

school received cargo containers. Donations in the form of fake grass mats, as

well as towels and socks for the children to work on and to wear, is very much

appreciated.

 

One of the highlights for Linda in teaching these

kids was when the teachers reported back a significant and noticeable change in

their behavior. Uncooperative children eventually warmed up to Linda’s loving

charm and started to participate. The children’s enthusiastic appetite to learn

more about the ability and strength of their bodies and the wisdom regarding

life’s challenges (death, pregnancies, drugs, violence), are very rewarding to

say the least.

 

These kids are developing into young people with a healthy

self-esteem, determination for the performance of asanas and admiration for

their bodies and the ability to concentrate.

 

The Anjali School of Yoga hosted these young ones on

5th May 2009 at our studio where they were able to demonstrate their

asanas.

 

Well done to the children and thanks to Linda for

giving them this teaching of life.

 

 

 

Dr Rev Marietjie Venter

Principle: Anjali

School of Yoga – South Africa

June 2009

 

 

 

-- Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi BhavananiChairmanICYER and Yoganjali Natyalayam25, 2nd Cross, Iyyanar NagarPondicherry, South Indiawww.icyer.com

www.geocities.com/yognat2001--------------------------DISCLAIMER : Information transmitted in this e-mail is proprietary to Ananda Ashram at ICYER, Pondicherry, South India. It is intended only for the addressee and may contain private, confidential and/or privileged material. Review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by any person other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that this email may have been a group mailing (bcc) and if you received this through error we apologize. If you have received this communication in error, please contact us at yognat and delete the material from any stored format/computer.

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

Commendable work indeed by Linda Venter. Have to congratulate her wholeheartedly for her dedicated selfless work. Very nice to note that she has visited our Ashram in 2007. Am positive that she has taken a lot of inspiration from Amma and Dr.Ananda.

Appreciate the Volantary work she has been doing for those children who need this badly. Food, shelter and clothing ; we say are the basic necessities of man. But isn't self-confidence and self-esteem essential too? Especially the children who are suffering the loss of their dignity, for no fault of theirs must be helped out of such a suffocation.

Very happy that Linda Venter has done that successfully. Great that the children are able to appreciate their bodies and themselves too. They will surely learn a lot more and become great Humane Beings in future and help uplift the down-trodden .Congratulations once again.

Would like to thank Amma and Dr.Ananda for being the Perennial Source of inspiration to many around the world. Feel proud to be a part of such a Great Tradition.

meena--- On Wed, 3/6/09, Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Bhavanani <yognat wrote:

Yogacharya Dr.Ananda Bhavanani <yognat Yoga for Children in South Africa Date: Wednesday, 3 June, 2009, 10:12 PM

 

 

 

Yoga for Children in South Africa

 

 

Linda Venter, a senior student and teacher of the Anjali School of Yoga – South Africa, is volunteering her time, energy and skills in teaching yoga to children (she also visited the Ananda Ashram with a group of four other South Africans in 2007).

 

In 2006 Linda, a retired social worker, felt that she needs to do something that really can bring about a difference in someone’s life. Not having children of her own, she decided to approach the schools in our rural community. The Attie van Wyk School accepted her services in teaching the children yoga skills.. At first she started with 100 children (grades 2-6) and in 2008 grade 1 was added with 37 extra scholars.

 

This school was erected to serve the children of colored farm workers in the rural area. 70% of these children are from disadvantage homes. The parents have none or very little education themselves. Alcoholism is a great problem in these communities and many of the children from these homes are borne with alcohol syndrome. Some of the children are sent here from a children’s orphanage because of behavior problems.

 

Teaching started in the classrooms amidst all the desks and chairs and/or outside on a cement slab and when it is very hot, then under a tree on the ground. This uncomfortable situation was changed when the school received cargo containers. Donations in the form of fake grass mats, as well as towels and socks for the children to work on and to wear, is very much appreciated.

 

One of the highlights for Linda in teaching these kids was when the teachers reported back a significant and noticeable change in their behavior. Uncooperative children eventually warmed up to Linda’s loving charm and started to participate. The children’s enthusiastic appetite to learn more about the ability and strength of their bodies and the wisdom regarding life’s challenges (death, pregnancies, drugs, violence), are very rewarding to say the least.

 

These kids are developing into young people with a healthy self-esteem, determination for the performance of asanas and admiration for their bodies and the ability to concentrate.

 

The Anjali School of Yoga hosted these young ones on 5th May 2009 at our studio where they were able to demonstrate their asanas.

 

Well done to the children and thanks to Linda for giving them this teaching of life.

 

 

 

Dr Rev Marietjie Venter

Principle: Anjali School of Yoga – South Africa

June 2009

 

 

-- Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi BhavananiChairmanICYER and Yoganjali Natyalayam25, 2nd Cross, Iyyanar NagarPondicherry, South Indiawww.icyer.comwww.geocities. com/yognat2001------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --DISCLAIMER : Information transmitted in this e-mail is proprietary to Ananda Ashram at ICYER, Pondicherry, South India. It is intended only for the addressee and may contain private, confidential and/or privileged material. Review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of this information by any person other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that this email may have been a group mailing (bcc) and if you received this through error we apologize. If you

have received this communication in error, please contact us at yognat (AT) gmail (DOT) com and delete the material from any stored format/computer.

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